One says the Toronto force should consider a pilot project allowing a “selection” of front-line officers to test the weapons, commonly known as Tasers, for a “limited” time period and that the results be “closely monitored.” The recommendation has a number of caveats as well, including a call for cameras or audio devices to record the use of CEWs and extensive reporting and analysis.

The other 16 recommendations made by Iacobucci ensure the use of the weapon as a last resort.

Iacobucci calls for an inter-provincial study on the medical effects of CEWs, a shared database between police forces on their effects and how they are deployed, enhanced and standardized reporting, monitoring of the technology, disciplining officers who misuse the weapon, a report on what de-escalation measures were used first, and more extensive training for officers using CEWs.

“The report does not advocate for an automatic expansion of Tasers but recommends an examination of a number of issues on which there is a dearth of good research,” said Toronto Police Services Board chair Alok Mukherjee. “It asks for inter-jurisdictional research that would be national in scope. This is very consistent what the board has been saying.”

The board has considered Tasers a number of times, the most recent being in September, after the province opened up the rules to allow front-line officers to carry CEWs.

Then, Police ChiefBill Blair asked the board to earmark funds for the weapons in the 2014 capital, a request that was denied not only because of the expense but because board members felt they needed time to take the issue to the public.